Clemens utters four words; trial date set for April 5
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Roger Clemens leaves the federal courthouse in Washington after Monday's arraignment.
Enlarge image Enlarge By H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY
Roger Clemens leaves the federal courthouse in Washington after Monday's arraignment.
By Mel Antonen, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — Pitcher Roger Clemens returned to the nation's capital Monday, but this time, instead of answering questions and getting scolded by members of the U.S. House, Clemens hung out in the back rooms of the U.S. District Court and spoke four words.

Clemens, 48, the seven-time Cy Young Award winner who could end up in jail if convicted of lying to Congress, arrived quietly at 9:30 a.m., and by the time he left about 2:45 p.m., he was surrounded by photographers during his 15-second walk from the side door to a black SUV.

ARRAIGNMENT: Clemens pleads not guilty
GALLERY: Images from Rocket's career, testimony
VOTE: Does Clemens deserve any jail time?
INDICTMENT: U.S. vs. Clemens (pdf)

The government is charging Clemens with six counts of making false statements, perjury and obstruction of Congress. A trial date has been set for April 5, just a few blocks from where Clemens testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he had never used performance-enhancing drugs.

In one exchange that day, Clemens interrupted chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., who pounded his gavel and yelled at Clemens, "This is not your time to argue with me."

Monday, Clemens, wearing khaki pants and a dark blazer, arrived at the courthouse and had his mug shot and fingerprints taken, standard procedure for a defendant.

He and his four-man legal team, led by Houston-based Rusty Hardin, broke for lunch in the courthouse's cafeteria, where he had a sandwich and a bottle of water and signed autographs for the cafeteria staff.

After his four-word arraignment statement — "Not guilty, your honor," he told Judge Reggie Walton— Clemens departed, he and his legal team to ponder evidence the government termed "voluminous."

Experts say Clemens' case will depend on the credibility of the scientific evidence and the testimony of Brian McNamee, Clemens' ex-trainer, and his former teammate, Andy Pettitte, whose accounts of Clemens' use and knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs differed from Clemens' testimony.

"The defense has to show that McNamee is trying to save his own hide and is a cockroach in a plate of food," New York lawyer Stuart Slotnick said. "The defense has to show that the whole plate of food needs to be thrown out.

"But Andy Pettitte could also prove to be devastating to Clemens' case."

After the hearing, Clemens and his legal team headed out a side door as security cleared a path through swarming photographers. As he walked through, Clemens kept his eyes on the path and got into a black SUV.

Fans shouted support, including one who said, "You'll always be my hero, Rocket."

The vehicle took off and headed for the airport. Clemens was off to South Carolina to play in the Golf.com World Amateur Handicap Championship.

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